Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison officially gave the Supreme Court the power of judicial review. Although this power was assumed to be a power of the Supreme Court previously, this was the first time the Supreme Court ruled a law unconsitutional.
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy was a part African-American man who was arrested for sitting in the whites only car and refusing to move. The Supreme Court ruled against Plessy saying that separate facilities are okay as long as they are of equal quality.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas
Linda Brown had to go to an all black school that was far from her house even though there was an all white school right down the street. The court ruled in her favor, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson saying separate but equal facilities are inherently unequal.
Gideon v. Wainwright
Gideon was arrested for breaking and entering. He couldn't afford a lawyer and the court he was tried in refused to give him one, forcing him to represent himself. He was found guilty. The Supreme Court ruled that Gideon had the right to an attorney and he must be tried again. They redid his case and he was found not guilty.
Miranda v. Arizona
Miranda didn't know his constitutional rights when he was arrested, and ended up incriminating himself through his words. He took it to the supreme court saying that he didn't know what his rights were. The court ruled in his favor, saying the police must inform people of their "Miranda" rights before interrogating them.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Tinker was sent home from school for wearing a black armband in protest of the Vietnam war. The Supreme Court ruled that the school doesn't have the right to ban silent and peaceful petition such as wearing black armbands.
Roe v. Wade
Roe was a single woman that lived in Texas. She wanted an abortion, however it was illegal in Texas. The Supreme Court ruled that abortion is legal.
U.S. v. Nixon
Nixon had hid tape recorders in his office and refused to release the tapes saying it was an "executive privilege". The court ruled that he had to release the tapes.
Citizens United v. F.E.C.
The court ruled corporations to be the same as people which means you cannot limit their political spending.